A vibrant celebration of cloth, craft and creativity returns to Sunny Bank Mills’ Threads Textile Festival from Saturday 16 to Sunday 17 May 2026.
Across the historic mill buildings in Farsley, visitors can immerse themselves in a rich programme of exhibitions, talks, workshops and a bustling makers’ market.
The 1912 Mill will host a lively market featuring 50 independent makers and textile businesses each day. From beautifully curated fabrics and haberdashery to yarns, kits, clothing and handcrafted homewares, it’s a chance to shop directly from artists and suppliers from across the UK and to meet the people behind the work including emerging makers giving them a platform to connect with new audiences.
Festival-goers are invited to take part in the popular Me-Made-May sewing competition, celebrating handmade fashion. Visitors can have their photo taken in their self-made outfits, with the public voting for their favourites.
Winners will be announced the following week, with prizes including textile books from Batsford Books, a pattern voucher from The Fold Line, and a Sunny Bank Mills workshop voucher.
Art takes centre stage throughout the Mills, with four exhibitions offering diverse perspectives on contemporary textiles.
The acclaimed 62 Group of Textile Artists return with Touchlines: The Delicate Boundaries of Care and Cloth (1–31 May) on the 3rd floor of the 1912 Mill, exploring the emotional and physical edges of textile practice. For the Love of Textiles (until 28 June) in the Sunny Bank Mills Art Gallery in Sandsgate explores the deeper emotional connections between textiles and making.
In the Spinning Mill Loft, Ellie Sanders presents Interchange, an interactive installation inviting visitors to handle handmade hagstones crafted from clay, yarn, beeswax and pigment, and even take one away. There’s also an exhibition of new work to discover from textile students at Bradford College on the 2nd floor of the 1912 Mill.
A dynamic talks programme offers rare insight into the world of textile art and design. Highlights include The Narrative Thread with Michele Carragher, whose intricate embroidery has featured in productions such as Game of Thrones, The Crown and Peaky Blinders, sharing her journey into film and television. Quiltmaker Jessie Cutts will demystify her intuitive approach in Free-form Quiltmaking, while textile artist Hannah Lamb explores the balance of control and chance in her practice in A Quiet Unfolding.
Alongside the talks, a packed programme of hands-on workshops runs across the weekend, offering visitors the chance to learn new skills and create something of their own.
The Sunny Bank Mills Museum & Archive will also be open across the weekend. In the neighbouring Bobbin Room, there’s even more to discover, with a special focus on the National Lottery-funded Dyevolution project, an inspiring three-year exploration of colour, cloth and collaboration.
Dr Sarah Gaunt, Threads Textile Festival Director, said: “Threads is a unique opportunity to experience the breadth and richness of contemporary textile practice in one extraordinary setting. From exhibitions and talks to workshops and our bustling market, there’s something here for everyone whether you’re an experienced maker or simply curious to explore.”
More information about Threads can be found here.
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